His morning it was raining at the base of Mt Daisen, we were greeted with a lovely blue sky and a clear view of the mountain. It is a brisk 13 degrees and everyone seems excited to have finally arrived. We hope the nice weather continues for tomorrow’s accent.
Now it’s bath time!

We are now at the Sand Dunes which are part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8102.html
After sitting for a few hours and a hearty lunch, many students are eager to run around and enjoy the sand dunes firsthand. As this is a national park, the children cannot draw in the sand! Of course, we cannot even think of making a sandcastle! Rules are rules.

After our fantastic bus drivers safely delivered us to Tottori, we are finally having lunch at the Sand Dune Center.
砂丘センター
https://goo.gl/maps/haweqrUc2Q17SSRaA

The students love curry and rice

　

Awakura Land?
We are now off of the expressway and now at Awakurando Roadside Station. There are many local farms selling their delicious looking fruits and vegetables.
https://g.co/kgs/ZdYHPw
After this stop, our next stop will be lunch.

Good morning!
Thank you so much for the very warm send off.
We are now on our way to Tottori?

My name is Ryota Amoh(the English teacher at Ikeda Elementary School) and I will be updating you with photos and brief summaries for the next three days. Please take a look at the website throughout these three days as I will be sending new information when I have a free minute or two.
Please stay tuned in.

２学期からグループ学習が始まりました。
4つのグループに分かれて学習をしています。

1・3年生グループは、初めて一緒に学習する友だちもいるので、初めに自己紹介をしました。
初めての友だちと、初めてのグループ学習に、わくわくした様子や、少し緊張した様子もありました。音楽遊びやゲームなどの活動を、楽しそうに取り組む姿がたくさん見られました。また、日直の仕事やスピーチをすることで、みんなの前で話すことにもチャレンジしています。

公開研究会　１次案内

本日、池田市立池田小学校の運動会が開催されました。
晴天の中、みんな元気に笑顔ですべての競技をやり切ることができました。

ＰＴＡからは参加賞としてノートを提供させていただきました。

池田小学校ＰＴＡ会長

ベルマークのポイントで「玉入れの支柱」を買っていただきました。高さ調整が自由にできる最新型のものです。運動会では１年生が使う予定です。

We just got on our last buses for day. If the roads are not too crowded, we
should get back to school in about 30 minutes. See you soon.

Thank you all for coming to so early this morning to give us a very warm
send off.
After a short bus ride and waiting for our train, we are currently on the
Shinkansen heading toward Hiroshima.
My name is Ryota Amoh and I will be updating you for the next three days
during this trip. Please continue to check the website for daily updates.



--
亮(ryo)

After a short bus ride from the Shinkansen station, we are now in the
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
We offered 1000 paper cranes and sang a song as a prayer for peace.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_thousand_or...

After, we heard a lecture from an Atomic Bomb survivor, Ms Tamiko
Shiraishi. It has been 75 years since the bombing of Hiroshima so there
are fewer and fewer survivors so this is an extraordinary experience for
all the students.

At the museum, there were many powerful displays and exhibits explaining
the immediate and long term affects of the atomic bomb. The hand drawn
pictures of from the survivors were shocking and heartbreaking.

--
亮(ryo)

After a long day in Hiroshima, we were off to Yamaguchi.
We could only enjoy the views of the prefecture from the bus and tomorrow
will be our first opportunity to explore.
The following are photos of our hotel arrival ceremony and our gorgeous
dinner in the grand dinning hall. Afterwards, the children and adults
enjoyed the hotels soothing hot springs.

--
亮(ryo)

This morning we were expecting a rain day outdoors, but we’re pleasantly
greeted with morning showers. So, we might have escaped a full day of rain
today. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
All the students were extremely well behaved last night as everyone was
tired from a full day in Hiroshima. This morning, we had a lovely
breakfast, gave our thanks for a great stay.
Now, we are heading to the limestone caves of Akiyoshidai.

--
亮(ryo)

Thank you all for coming to receive us at such at late hour.
Your children were so happy to have come great them with warm smiles.
Rest well and we look forward to seeing tomorrow. Please have your child
arrive at 9:30. We will have one hour of integrated studies and two hours
of PE. After that, we will have lunch and you will be dismissed at 1:30.
Then, you will a long 4 day weekend.

We are now on the Nozomi heading back to Osaka. Everyone seems to very
tired and missing home. I’m sure all of the students are looking forward to
a home cooked meal and a warm bath at home.

The late morning was spent by the students exploring the town of Jyozan.
Students working in their activity groups to explore the town freely while
making sure to see a few important points. Rain wasn’t on the forecast and
things were very nice in the first hour but it rained cats and dogs but the
students shared umbrellas and continued their journeys throughout the wet
morning.

After breakfast we were out and about by 8AM. We first went to the historic
Shoin Shrine which is dedicated to Yoshida Shoin.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshida_Sh%C5%8Din

Yoshida Shoin is extremely highly regarded and a historical figure that we
learn about in school.

The teachers explained several memorials to him.


--
亮(ryo)

Before checking into our hotel, we make on last short hike around Myojin
Pond. The pond is connected to the Japan Sea so we can can interesting sea
creatures like stingrays.
But, the main attraction were the kites(the bird) which we fed sliced
bread. Some students actually fed them by hand.

--
亮(ryo)